Almost Isolated

Chapter 12 - Attention

Neri was attempting to fry an egg that morning. With her complete concentration on her breakfast, one of her hand holding the pan's handle and the other, on the flame adjustment knob; she accidentally, turned the fire into high with the sudden ringing of her phone.

It was Margot calling.

Neri had let out an annoyed sighed as she gazed at her imperfect burnt egg.

"What?" She asked tapping the green answer icon on her cellphone.

"You didn't see anything, f*uck right? I mean how can you see them when I couldn't see them?"

Her cousin wouldn't leave it alone. Neri was reluctant about the whole picture at first - with her seeing the two ghosts while Margot with the third eye being 'blind' about it. She told the tall girl anyway. Naturally, she jeered at her, telling her a liar. When Neri rolled her eyes, submitting to Margot's accusation, the latter had gone a lot furious, stormed out from the Jones' house, leaving her behind.

"Your call. If I didn't see anything, then I didn't see them."

As Neri turned back to her egg, thinking if she could still eat it. Robbie was already standing on her way to the stove.

The ghost was still looking grim. His thick brows knotted and his jaw clenched as his dark eyes stared at her, glumly. Neri may had felt guilty but with Robbie snubbing her yesterday; she thought it wasn't her problem anymore.

When Margot left, she was hoping they could discuss her intention of coming back to the old house with her cousin; Robbie was a lot interested with the resident ghost who'd scowled at the former then disappeared. Without saying anything, Robbie had also vanished and Neri was officially abandoned.

The recollection infuriated her!

"Still mad at me?" Neri asked Robbie, forgetting she was still on phone with Margot. "I said sorry, right? How about you? Shouldn't you say sorry for leaving me alone last night? Something bad could had happened to me back there -"

"Well what the f*uck. You're an adult, aren't you?" Margot piped in with the usual sarcasm.

Neri saw Robbie's lips twitch into a smirk. Meeting her gaze, he folded his arms formally and was gone.

"Robbie -!"

"Who's Robbie, really? What the f*uck! This is the third time... What are you pulling -?"

F... F... F! And more 'F'...

Margot's obscene word had again touch her nerve. It was nauseating. Neri snapped at her, "Don't bother talking to me again with that dirty mouth of yours -!"

Margot was off the phone, shutting her off first.

The nerve! Neri thought, turning to her almost charred breakfast. She decided she'd be delighted to have a cup of coffee.

Robbie didn't show his face again. The following day, Neri had an idea for an attention.

~oOo~

"What are you doing?"

It was scary and stupid. However, it's the only way to get to Robbie. Neri wouldn't want another day of him, ignoring her.

Neri was again back inside the Jones' house, acting stubborn. Robbie had appeared behind her with a frown on his face as if he wanted to strangle her.

It was about two in the afternoon. The sun's bright rays had casted a dull light in some spots of the place near the window. The rest though, including the hallways were still black and grey. It was a good thing Neri brought a flashlight.

"I'm doing you a favor," she replied, her head high as she flash her beam towards the stairs up ahead. "I'm going to see Mr. Julian Jones and ask him if he knows you. I noticed the way he looked at you and I think he does know you. His hatred was obvious."

"And why would he hate me?"

Neri was wearing a pink floral cloth mask; she removed it and stuffed it inside her denim shorts.

Facemask had been necessary since the outbreak of the corona virus. Nowadays, wearing a face shield in public places was also becoming a part of the safety protocol. She should get used with the covering on her nose and mouth... but no.

"That's a relief getting it off." Her chest heaved, breathing in and out. "Lucky you, you don't need one."

"The experience would be great," Robbie said, quietly. "... I could use to being alive too."

The sentiment had touched something in her, "I'm sorry... really."

Neri glanced sideways at his soldier uniform. "Anyway, I really think Mr. Jones knows you. You two have the similar military clothes but I think he doesn't like you because maybe... My theory: You two could be enemies in the past. You wanted to talk to him to end your feud. Then you can go to heaven -"

She hesitated realizing she'll be left alone as soon as Robbie finished his business on Earth... like the other spirit would do.

"Past rivals, eh? Fixing a dispute? I don't feel any connection but it's really interesting, Neri. Then wow... Going to heaven. Finally, finding peace."

Robbie smiled at the whole idea; seemingly oblivious to the fact that she will miss him terribly... Not that she wouldn't want a friend to leave her but with the reality of not surviving another day, not hearing his voice or seeing his face.

Neri realized she really liked the ghost. Have she fallen for him too?  She frowned. She possible couldn't -

"You came back Alejandra." The resident ghost spoke from somewhere. His tone was like a hushed caress as if coaxing her.

Alejandra?  Neri thought. That name again...

"Sir... It's Mary Nerisse actually, not Alejandra... and I'm with my friend, Robbie." She cleared her throat. "Where are you, Mr. Jones? We need to ask you about something."

The Jones ghost paused. Neri exchanged glances with Robbie who nodded at her for the living room. She gathered, the voice was indeed coming over there. The door to the room was at the hallway's left, ajar. She noticed light seeping from the inside, probably from the windows.

"Sir -?" The thought of her talking to another apparition, shook Neri.

She couldn't believe that she'd gotten herself into some weird situation. Weeks ago, she was a nurse in a country; she'd known all her life as her home. She had a life with parents, a sister and co-workers if not friends. Now because of the virus, she'd been thrown into a foreign land, jobless, with relatives she couldn't call a family just yet... and ghosts!

Neri sighed, fighting off her misery. She pushed the door to the living room.

Julian Jones sat on a chair, his back against the glass window. The sun's ray was directed into the chair, the ghost of the house had appeared white like a fog in a human form. He got up hastily at the sight of them. The drapes fell instantly, covering the window, engulfing the living room into darkness.

Neri panicked. As she pointed her flashlight to the Jones ghost, a lamp by the chair gave out an orange glow.

"You wanted to talk to me, Alejandra?"

"It's Nerisse not Alejandra. What an old-fashioned name, seriously -"

Neri stopped in mid-sentence. Julian was already standing in front of her, almost transparent. He was as tall as Robbie was; she had to raise her gaze to him.

His eyes penetrated into hers then a sly smile. "My love, we have things to discuss."

The resident ghost glared at Robbie. "But he should leave... or else!"

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I'm currently editing this story. Don't forget to vote and leave comments, thank you so much!

- Maylen